Palaces open for free during Chuseok

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Royal palaces and other major cultural sites will be open for free during Chuseok or Thanksgiving holiday from Sept. 26 to 29.

During the nation’s most celebrated holiday, people visit families and relatives to perform ancestral rites. To celebrate the occasion, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) is offering free admission for four major palaces, the Jongmyo Shrine and royal tombs on the day of Chuseok.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace and Deoksugung Palace in the capital of Seoul will be open to the public for free during the national holiday, except for the Huwon Garden on the grounds of Changdeokgung Palace.

At Deoksugung Palace, a concert of traditional Korean music will be held from Wednesday to Sunday at 7 p.m. and modernized versions of Korean folk music will be performed at Hamnyeongjeon on Saturday and Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

The Jongmyo Shrine is a Confucian shrine dedicated to deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The UNESCO World Heritage is generally available only for those who made reservations, but will be open to the general public during the holiday.

A performance of "Jongmyo Jeryeak" (royal ancestral ritual music) is scheduled on Sept. 26.

The 40 royal tombs of Joseon scattered over 18 locations across the nation will also be open free of admission during Chuseok. The tombs were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2009 for their unique architectural and landscape structure resonating with Confucian and geomantic traditions.

The Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, the shrine of admiral Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598) and the Chilbaek Cemetery of Righteous Fighters in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, both free year-round, offer chances to play Korean traditional games such as "tuho" (a stick-throwing game) and "yutnori" (a board game using four wooden sticks).

Visitors to the palace, shrine and tombs can participate in quizzes about Korean culture. Winners will receive gift vouchers. For more information, visit www.cha.go.kr or call 042-481-4909.